Final Reflection for flexible delivery

I have been spending quite a bit of time reflecting on how flexible educational programs can be designed to promote active learning, student engagement and learning that is student driven, whilst having to meet organisational and professional expectations and obligations. It requires initiative, dedication, creativity, flexibility and innovation. Although the literature highlights the importance of developing these qualities in our learners, it seems to me, that it is these same qualities that have to be developed in our educators. How does one become creative? How does one become innovative and flexible? The answer: only through freedom, opportunity and experience. So as educators we need to design learning and assessment activities and experiences, that allow students to be creative, to be challenged with new experiences and ways of thinking and to be nurtured through this discovery process. Its also important for them to acknowledge their own mistakes as a vital part of the learning process and to have the freedom to choose the way in which they prefer to learn. However, they also need to develop an awareness ,that with these privileges comes accountability and responsibility to their peers, their mentors and all individuals that they come in contact with. Students who learn in environments such as these are more likely to model these behaviours in the 'real world' and will hopefully be more capable of fulfilling their professional obligations in a responsible and humane manner. Likewise, educational organisations need to allow their educators the same privileges in order for them to be able to design and implement instructional design programs that are relevant, humane and inspiring.

The challenge for us now is to undertake the final stage of this unit, and design a course of instruction that will address all the above points.

Our role as instructional designers is develop educational programs that " enable people to become who they were designed to be" and lead the educational process by "serving others", our students and our community. ( John C Maxwell, Leadership Promises for Everyday).
I also find this old eastern saying as highlighted by (Tolle 2005) that "the teacher and the taught, together create the teaching."